Citizenship for refugees from Pak, Bangladesh, Afghan

New Delhi: As promised, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed officials to work on granting Indian Citizenship to over 2 lakh hindu refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. A month long camp in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra and Delhi is being organised. Apart from citizenship the refugees are also likely to be given Pan, Adhar and Voter cards.

In Bangladesh and Pakistan, the Hindus faced the highest religious persecution. With Pakistan and Bangladesh upping a radical approach considerably, most of the Hindus in those countries have left out of fear and reached India. The Indian government has decided that it would cater to all of them and give them the legal status to remain in India. Further an amendment to the Citizenship Act of 1955 will also give these persons the right to claim Indian citizenship.

Officials from the home ministry were directed to hold discussions with the states where the Hindu refugees have settled. In the discussion held with the states it was said that the process of giving the Hindu refugees Indian citizenship or long term visas must be completed by August 15 this year.